The Graduate.
Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.
Among the pictures sent to our recent photographic competition were some not eligible for entry in any of the classes for which prizes were given, but which were such fine specimens of amateur work that they deserve more than a mere mention of subject and artist. There were several excellent animal studies, a class of pictures which requires special skill in order to be successful. Mr. Louis H. Flanders, of Chicago, Ill., with other examples of good work, sent two—one was the head of a Jersey cow, evidently without a flaw in the negative; the other, to which no name was given, might appropriately be called "Waiting for the Master." A large shepherd dog is sitting on his haunches, holding in his mouth the bridle of a horse, which stands, like the one in the nursery rhyme, "All saddled, all bridled, all fit for a ride." The surroundings—a drive leading to a barn in the background—are in keeping with the picture. This is one of the most natural animal studies which it has ever been the good fortune of the editor to examine.
Another good animal study, which is called "Friends," was made by Mr. Orville Bassett, of New Bedford, Mass. The friends were a shepherd dog and a handsome cat lying side by side on the grass. Mr. Huber Hoge, of Brooklyn, N.Y., sent an animal study entitled "Fallen Majesty"—a picture of an enormous lion in a cage; an unusual subject, and well taken. Miss Bertha Lothrop, of Riverton, N.J., sent a picture of a pug dog and a good natured looking cat playing together—"Playmates." Franklin M. Conant, Providence, R.I., and W. Yost, of Cumberland, Md., both sent good studies of cats, and Mrs. Claud Gatch, Salem, Or., sent a picture of a dog family, entitled "A Good Square Meal." A characteristic Southern picture was sent by Lieut. W. C. Davis, Fortress Monroe, Va. While this picture was not as sharp in detail as might be desirable, the subject was very amusing. A ragged colored boy was holding by a rope halter the framework of a horse—it could be called nothing more—and "De Price is Fifteen Dollahs, Sah," was the appropriate title to the picture.
Some fine photographs of unusual subjects were received, among which was one sent by Mr. C. H. Voorhees, of New York city, of a flash of lightning. It is one of the best pictures of lightning that could be made, the effect in the picture being exactly what one sees on a summer night when a flash of what is called "chain lightning" crinkles across the sky, the landscape being faintly outlined instead of illuminated as in the broad flashes. Photographs of lightning have revealed one mistake of the artist, and that is that lightning never assumes the jagged streaks with sharp angles which one sees in drawings of lightning. The electric fluid runs in curved lines, and looks something like outlines of rivers in map-drawings.
Two beautiful cloud effects were submitted. "Day is dying in the West," is the title of one taken by Mr. Newell B. Edson, of Portland, Me. The clouds are very artistically shaded, and show no halation, as is apt to be the case in most cloud pictures. This picture would make a fine bromide enlargement. The other cloud effect was sent by Warfield T. Longcope, Baltimore, Md., and is entitled "Moonlight." It is a harbor scene, and the outlines of the wharves and shipping show dimly, while the moonlight, breaking through the clouds, shines across the water. Mrs. George Conn, of Black Diamond, Wash., sent a picture of a snow scene, the snow looking like the real article and not like chalk, as is often the case with photographs of snow.